Ground meat mold



FeB. 27, 1940. R c. IZIRINGER 2,191,921

GROUND MEAT MOLD Filed Oct. 5, 1938 ZEjAM Zmventor I no Patented Feb. 27, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT JOFFICE 2 Claims.

I This invention relates to a mold, and while primarily designed. and intended for shaping ground meat for-sandwiches, it will be obvious that the device may be employed for any other which will appear'as the description proceeds,

the invention consists of the novel construction,

combination and arrangement of parts herein specifically illustrated and described, but it is to be understood that changes in the form, proportions and details of construction may be resorted to that come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

fl In the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a ground meat mold constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is an edge view of the base plate.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view, partly in cross section, of the device disposed in the filling position.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the operating tube and of associated parts with the knob removed therefrom.

Referring in detail to the drawing, I denotes a flat rectangularly shaped base plate, having rounded corners, and provided on its top with a plurality of regularly arranged risers 2. The latter are oval-shaped and the top faces thereof are disposed a considerable distance above the plane of the top face of the base plate.

A vertically extending T-bolt 3, having a crosshead 4, is adjustably secured in the base plate by a screw thread engagement in the latter, and by a lock nut 5 engaged on the lower end thereof. The base plate I is supported by a plurality of fixed bosses 6, which are disposed adjacent to the respective corners of the base plate to stabilize the positioning of the device and to provide clear-- mice for the engagement of the nut 5 on the end of the T-bolt. A fiat top plate 1, of considerable thickness I and having a peripheral contour identical to the base plate I, is disposed parallel to and above the latter. The top plate is resiliently supported onv four upright spiral springs 8, whichare disposed adjacent to respective corners of said top and base plates between the latter. The lower end of the springs are fixed to the base plate by screws 9, or in any other suitable manner, and the upper.

ends thereof are seated in respective deep pockets l provided therefor in and opening atthe bottom of the top plate. I

The top plate I is provided with a plurality of oval-shaped openings ll,into which extend, with a close sliding fit, the correspondingly shaped" risers 2 on the base plate I. The height of the risers are exactly commensurate to the considerable thickness of the top plate, and in the operation of the .device the tops of the risers cannot completely .clear the lower ends of the respective openings I I in the top plate. 1

The T-bolt '3 projects through a centrally 'disposed aperture l2 in' the top plate I and into a vertically disposed operating tube 13, which latter is revolubly supported on the top of the top plate. A locking plug I4 is fixed in the operating tube and is provided with an oblong, open top slot l for receiving the cross-head 4 of the T-bolt. The slot has a bottom l6 formed with an aperture H for the passage of the T-bolt. A knob I8 is fixed in the top of the operating tube to facilitate the operation of the device, and a clearance I9 is provided in the tubev above the locking plug to allow the operation of the crosshead therein. 1

When the operating tube I3 is turned to dispose the slot l5 parallel to the cross-head 4, the normal action of the springs 8 will automatically force the top plate 1 to the elevated position, as shown in Figure 3. When the top plate is so elevated, the forms 20, for shaping the ground meat 2|, are provided by the sunken tops of the risers 2 and by the side walls of respective openings II in the top plate. The elevation of the top plate by the action of the springs is limited by the engagement of the cross-head on the bottom I6 of the slot. The ground meat 2| is pressed. or tamped into the forms 20, and the tops thereof are shaved off, with a suitable implement, flush springs will be completely housed in respective pockets l0, and the tops of the risers 2 will be exactly flush with the top of the top plate carrying and exposing the ground meat properly shaped in cake forms. The latter may be conveniently removed from thetops of the risers by running a spatula-like implement thereunderand along the flush top of the top plate and tops of the risers.

When the top plate 7 is forced to the depressed position, the cross-head 4 of the T-bolt 3 will be disposed. in the clearance l9 above the locking plug it. By giving the operating tube I3 a onequarter turn, the slot I5 will be disposed at right angles to the cross-head 4 and the latter will be engaged by the top of the plug l4 and thereby securely lock the top plate in thedepressed posior any other suitable material, and that the contours thereof may be varied to. suit any condition found in practice. Further, the size, contour, and number of forms 26 embodied in the device may obviously be varied to provide any desired meat cake shape. By adjusting the height of the T-bolt 3 on the base plate 8 the thickness of the meat cakes may be varied to effect requirements.

The present invention provides a most efficient device of'its kind, which may be readily employed and conveniently operated for quickly shaping ground meat in cake form of uniform size, weight and contour.

WhatIclaimis:

plate, a plurality of springs mounted on said base plate and supporting said top plate, the action of said springs elevating said top plate to dis pose the top faces of risers below the plane of the top face of said top plate, means for depressing said top plate to dispose the top face of the latter on the plane of the top faces of said risers,-and

means for securing said top plate in the depressed position.

2. In a ground meat mold, the combination of" a base plate provided with a plurality of risers having flat top faces, a top platedisposed on said base plate and being formed with openings to receive"-respective risers, a plurality of springs mounted on said base plate for supporting said top plate, the normal action of said springs elevating said top plate to dispose the top face of thelatter above the-plane of the top face of said risers, said top plate being depressible on said springs to dispose the top of the former on the plane of the tops of said risers, an operating tube disposed on said top plate and carring a knob fixed to the upperend thereof, a plug fixed in said tube and being provided with an oblong open top slot, said slot having a bottom provided with an aperture, a T-bolt including a cross-head adjustably secured in said base plate and extend-; ing through said top plate and through said aperture and normally having said cross-head thereof disposed in, said slot, the upper end of said plug being spaced from said knob to provide clearance for said cross-head toallow the latter to beengaged on the top of said plug for securing said 

